Then they went inside to help Mr. Crow get ready, and by and by they all
sat down and waited for people to come. Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum felt
pretty well, too, for they thought they would have the easiest time. You
see, they had always depended on Mr. Crow a good deal, for, besides
being a good cook, he was a great hand to provide, and knew more about
where to get the best things, and the best time of day or night to get
them, than both of the others put together. So he didn't say anything,
but dressed up nice and spruce in a clean apron and cooking cap and
leaned out of the window, as cooks always do, with his arms folded. By
and by along came Mr. Jack Rabbit.
[Illustration: "HELLO!" HE SAID, "WHAT'S THIS?"]
"Hello!" he said. "What's this?"
Then he read the sign over and looked at Mr. Crow and asked him if it
was a joke. And Mr. Crow said:
"Not much! Come up and see."
So then Mr. Rabbit went up stairs and Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum showed
him through, and Jack Rabbit said that he didn't feel very well this
summer, any way, and he believed he'd just shut up his house and come
and board a while for a change. He said he guessed he'd take the room
above Mr. 'Coon's, because it had a nice south window and a tall
looking glass, and that he'd pack up a few things that he needed and
come over right away. Then he went home and the 'Coon and 'Possum and
the Old Black Crow all shook hands and danced around in a circle to
think how well they were going to do, for if Mr. Jack Rabbit came they
were sure of having as many others as their house would hold.
And while they were dancing along came Mr. Robin. He read the sign, too,
and laughed, and then knocked at the door till Mr. 'Coon came down and
let him in. He thought it was a joke at first, like the Rabbit, but when
he heard that Jack Rabbit was coming to board he spoke up just as quick
as anything and said he'd come, too, and that he'd have his things there
before supper time. He took the room over Mr. Crow, because he said he
didn't mind the smell of the cooking, and then maybe he'd learn some new
receipts. You see, Mr. Crow and Mr. Robin are sort of kinsfolk, and when
they have time they often get together and trace back to find out just
what relation they are to each other, and that makes them good friends.
Well, Mr. Robin hadn't more'n got out of the house when who should walk
in but Mr. Squirrel.
"What's all this about boarders?" said Mr. Squirrel. "I'm looking for a
place to spend a month or two myself."
So then they showed him the room above Mr. 'Possum's, and he was so
pleased with the view and everything that he paid a week's board in
advance to be sure of keeping anybody else from getting it. When he was
gone the 'Coon and 'Possum and the Old Black Crow did another dance, and
kept saying over and over how rich they'd be and what they would do with
all the money. Then they heard somebody laughing outside, and when they
looked out there was Mr. Turtle laughing and reading the sign.
"Hello!" he said. "This isn't the first of April."
"No," said Mr. Crow, "it's a boarding house, and a good one. All the
best people in the country stop here. Mr. Rabbit, Mr. Robin and Mr.
Squirrel. Sorry, Mr. Turtle, but our rooms are all full."
Then Mr. Turtle did look cheap, for he thought he couldn't be in the
crowd, and it was the very crowd he liked to associate with. But just
then Mr. 'Coon happened to think that they might fit up the big room
below the other big room where they all gathered to eat and talk, and
Mr. Turtle said that would suit him, exactly, because he was large and
heavy and didn't care much about climbing any way. So he hurried off
after his things, too, and he wasn't out of sight before here comes Mr.
Dog!
Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum were both looking out the window when he came
up, and they jumped back like lightning. You see, they didn't like Mr.
Dog worth a cent. Then Mr. Crow came and looked out the window and
talked to him. Mr. Dog was just as polite as a basket of chips, and of
course that's the politest thing in the world.
"I've just seen Mr. Robin," said Mr. Dog, "and I came to get a room,
too."
"Awfully sorry, Mr. Dog, but our rooms are all full," said Mr. Crow.
"Why don't you take down your sign, then?" said Mr. Dog.
"Hotels never take down their signs," said Mr. Crow.
"Hotels are never too full for one more, either," said Mr. Dog. "If you
don't let me come in I think I'll wait around here and make a vacancy."